Although it is six weeks away, plans are already well underway for the Miss Kansas Parade on June 8 in downtown Pratt. Convertibles are a vital part of the parade as transportation for the Miss Kansas candidates so anyone with a convertible is asked to help out at the parade.

Leading the charge for the parade this year is new Kiwanis member Andrea Polf. The Kiwanis have organized the Miss Kansas Parade for many years and Polf said she is excited to spearhead the event.

Parade registration letters were sent out Wednesday to various organizations, clubs, schools and other entities detailing the annual parade that is one of the most popular events during pageant week, the first full week in June in Pratt.

The parade will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8 in downtown Pratt. Registration will start at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Second and Jackson. Everyone should be checked in by 9:30 a.m. with lineup starting at 9:45 a.m.

The parade is expected to last about an hour and is a great community event that promotes businesses and clubs, Polf said.

Polf is calling for all entrants to return their parade applications no later than Saturday, June 1 so she can get parade organized as early as possible.

Pratt has 60 clubs and Polf is hoping to get as many entries from that group as possible. She also wants businesses, schools and individuals to talk part in the parade.

It may be her first year as parade organizer but Polf has found organizing the parade to be a very smooth process.

"I really haven't had any challenges. Everyone has been wonderful," Polf said. "The responses I've gotten have been very positive."

Polf has met with city officials, the Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce and with Miss Kansas organizers to work out the details of the parade.

The Miss Kansas Pageant has been a tradition in Pratt since 1955 and the parade has always been a favorite activity during pageant week. It is an opportunity for the public to see the candidates in the parade and later have time to actually meet the candidates during the autograph session.

The Miss Kansas Outstanding Teen Pageant is held in Pratt at the same time as the Miss Pageant. The Teen contestants also take part in the parade as well as the Sunflower Princesses, the principal performers, the judges, the reigning Miss Kansas and any former titleholders, pageant directors, the stage hands, the pageant administrative staff along with a large variety of parade entries.

Page 2 of 2 - The parade brings a lot of people to downtown Pratt and is a great promotional tool for the community.

The first two preliminary nights of the pageant are Thursday and Friday, June 6 and 7 with the final night of competition on Saturday, June 8. The Miss Kansas Pageant will feature 25 contestants while the Miss Kansas Outstanding Teen Pageant will have 19 contestants.